US cuts off key channel for operation of Ukrainian HIMARS
Photo: Ukraine is not receiving targeting data for HIMARS from the US (Getty Images)
The US has stopped providing Ukraine with key intelligence data necessary for the operation of Ukrainian HIMARS. According to media reports, this happened on March 5 in the second half of the day, according to a post by a journalist from The Economist.
"America cut a key intel link for alerts at 2 p.m. Kyiv. Before that: targeting data for HIMARS," journalist Oliver Carroll of The Economist wrote on social media.
According to him, Ukraine is also no longer receiving real-time information for long-range strikes.
"Trump wanted a thank you, says a source. We will be writing it on graves of dead Ukrainians," he emphasized.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post, citing Ukrainian military sources, reports that for at least the past month, at least one of the Ukrainian teams responsible for launching HIMARS rockets has not received coordinates for strikes beyond 40 miles (about 64 km) past the front line between Russian and Ukrainian forces.
The military added that in recent weeks, the transmission of such coordinates has ceased, which, in their words, indicates a de facto halt in the exchange of this intelligence.
Cessation of data exchange between the US and Ukraine
Earlier, it was reported that the US had suspended arms deliveries and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed this information.
Ratcliffe noted that he is "looking forward to lifting the pause and cooperating with Ukraine on the path to peace."
Following this, Sky News reported that intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine had not been completely halted.
A source cited by the outlet claimed that some exchange was still taking place, stating that the US continued to provide Ukraine with intelligence that could be used for attacks on Russian forces in occupied Ukrainian territory.
However, the outlet later reported, citing an anonymous Ukrainian source, that the US had stopped sharing any intelligence with Ukraine.
What is HIMARS?
The HIMARS M142 (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) is a highly mobile artillery rocket system. It fires 227mm GPS-guided rockets and can launch up to six rockets at a time or a single ATACMS ballistic missile. Depending on the modification, it can strike targets at distances of up to 300 kilometers. The rockets supplied to Ukraine have a range of up to 80 kilometers.
